BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4716, 25 June 1924, Page 3

BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY.

annual meeting. The third annual meeting of the Paeroa Beautifying Society was held in the Borough Chambers on Monday night, the president, Mr J. L. Hanna, presiding over the following members : Messrs W. Marshall, J. W. Silcock, E. E. Gillman, E. Edwards, G. H. Taylor, G. P. de Castro, Mesdames Hanna and Evans, Misses Shaw, Brownbill, and Dutton. THE REPORT. The annual report was read as follows :— In presenting its third annual report of your society this committee feels somewhat disappointed at the result of the year's operations. Owing to the lapsing of the guarantees, which were for two years only, and the difficulty in collecting the balance outstanding, the committee has not had the financial backing this year that would justify new work, and this has naturally engendered a lack of interest on the part of the committee and the public. Another matter which has militated against the collection of outstanding guarantees is the failure of legal proceedings against Walls and Whitten, and it is to be regretted that some of the guarantors at least have sheltered from their moral responsibility under a legal technicality. Your committee realises the necessity of having some active work in progress to keep the public interest at the proper pitch. Early in the year it was suggested that a canvass be made for new members of .the Society. The .War Memorial, however, was mooted, and it was suggested that such a campaign by this Society would militate against donations to the war memorial, and it was decided to allow the matter to stand over. The matter was referred to on several occasions in committee, but the same question of the war memorial was always the .stumbling block, Notwithstanding, however, that practically nothing has bene coming in the Society is fortunate in still having a credit belance of £3B 9s 3d at the end of the year, and it will be for the incoming committee to decide what steps must be taken for an improvement of the financial position to that extent which will enable the undertaking of some new work. v Maintenance.—Your committee has been carrying out maintenance by casuai labour, and our experience has proved this to be the most satisfactory way of dealing with this phase of the Society’s work. The Borough Council undertook during the year to maintain the footpaths in the railway section, and the thanks of the Society are due to the City Fathers. The Society’s thanks are also also due to them for installing. free of cost to the Society, _ two stand pipes and taps in the railway section. Railway Section. —Although in some cases the flower-beds have not been maintained as well as might be wished, speaking generally, the maintenance of this section has been good and continues a very vast improvement on the old unsightly dump. It is just a question for the incoming committee to consider whether the time has not arrived when the circular flower-beds should be grassed and the palms allowed to carry on alone. Church Corner. —This section is without doubt the greatest credit to the Society. It is, however, due. to the taking over of the work by Misses Brownbill and Dutton, and is a mp*ument to their industry and civic spirit. They are entitled to the very best thanks of the Society, and your committee seriously suggests to other townspeople the desirability of emulating the example set. The Borough Council has undertaken to remove the bubble fountain in this section to a position on the edge of the footpath kerbing, which will obviate the nuisance heretofore caused by water lying on portion of the section.

Public Rotunda.—This is still in good condition, but though an ornament to the town has not proved the utility that this Society hoped for. It is to be hoped, with the erection of the. new post office and the resultant centralisation of the town at this point, that the rotunda will serve a greater usefulness in the future.

Library Section. —The thanks of the Society are due to Miss Rickard for tiie planting done •in this section. Much more cannot be done pending completion by the Borough Council of its intention to furnish a rest-room on part of the old fire brigade station, it will be for the new committee to take action in the laying out of this part immediately the rest-room is put in order.

Mackay Street.—lt was found necessary to replace one of the trees in the avenue in this street, and all are now doing satisfactorily. Mrs Loughlin and Mrs G. A. Wilson have each presented . a garden seat to the Society, and these have been placed, at their request, outside the Presbyterian Church. The thanks of the Society are ude to these ladies for their generosity

Social.—Early in the year a social was held with a view to raising funds for the Society and resulted, after arduous work by the committee and their wives and lady friends, in a profit of some £l7. Your committee does not consider that this form of providing funds is equitable. A very great deal of work and responsibility devolves on the willing few, whereas the funds required by the Society should be a gift of the public who benefit by the town’s improvement.

Damage to Gardens. —Your committee regrets that it was again troubled during the year by damage to and pilfering, from some of the gardens in the railway section, and it is a matter of shame to the community that such should occur. The thanks are due to the police for their earnest and "active endeavours to bring the offenders to justice. Nomination. —The Society has been fortunate ifi haying the services of

Miss Dutton as secretary, and though there have not been the funds to handle most of the work of the committee has devolved on her and she has carried it out with credit to herself and to the Society. The thanks of the committee are again due to Mr Blakeway for auditing the balancesheet. In conclusion, your committee feels that the public spirit can again be brought to that stage where the Society. will be a more active benefit to the town and that there is ample scope yet for its work of improvement. BALANCE-SHEET. In the balance-sheet the expenditure was set out as follows : Church corner £7 8s Id, railway section £62 16s Id, library section 14s, rotunda 7s, Mackay Street 7s, treasurer’s account £l7 4s 9d, working expenses £2O 9s lOd. bank charges 10s. The receipts were made up. of: Cash at’ bank £l2 12s, buarantees received £lO5, subscriptions £9, donations Ils, proceeds of social £l7 3s 6d, sale of lawn-mower £1 7s, Borough Council outstanding account received £2 12s 6d, making a total of £l4B 6s. which left a credit balance of £3B 9s 3d. The assets were given; Cash at bank £3B 9s 3d, guarantees outstanding £lO5, subscriptions outstanding £59, rotunda £147 3s 6d, six garden seats £2B bubble foundtain £B, turnstiles £2, tools and gear at valuation £l3 2s 9d, totalling £4OO 15s. The liabilities amounted to £4 12s, for wages. Mr Marshall moved that the report and balance-sheet as read o.; the secretary and added to by the vice-presi-dent be received, .and .that it be a recommendation that the assets be .substantially written down next year. Seconded by Mr Edwards. Mr de Castro remarked on the small amount of legal charges. Mr Edwards said it was just one of the many things that Mr Hanna had done for the society io charge just a small sum on this. Mr de Castro remarked on the amount of guarantees outstanding, and it was arranged that a canvass should be made at ajn early date to try and get outstanding amounts in. Mr Marshll spoke in appreciative terms of the services Mr Hanna had rendered to the society during the past and other years, saying he was undoubtedly the life and soul of the society. Mr and Mrs Hanna had absolutely founded the Beautifying Society, and he wished the society’s appreciation of their liberal assistance placed on record. Mr Edwards seconded, and the motion was carried by acclamation. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected. Patrons; Messrs H, Poland and J.L. Hanna ; president, Mr W. Marshall; vice-presidents, Messrs J. W. SHcock and Ik E. Gillman f commi’ttee, Mrs Evaim Misses Shaw, Brownbill, and Rickard, Messrs Edwards, G. H. Taylor, and A. R. Gor.rie ; treasurer, Mr G. P. de Castro; secretary, Miss H. Duttoi ; auditor, Mr W. H. Blakeway. SERVICES APPRECIATED. Mr Marshall moved that the society record its regret at losing Mr and Airs Hanna permanently. H= said the work that the society had done had Deen only possible because cf the enthusiasm and energy displayed by Miami Mrs Hanna. He knew it had been a labour of love arising out of their natural love for the things which were beautiful, and the benefit of their love for the beautiful would long be realised by the public of Paeroa in the work which the society had done. This would ever remain a monument to theii- public spirit and love of Paeroa. As an appreciation of their magnificent services Mr Marshall moved that Mr and Mrs Hanna be made life members. ’ Mr Edwards, in seconding, added that the society was practically inaugurated and formed and all the schemes in connection with the worn of the society first thought out in front of Mr and Mrs Hanna’s fireside, and the town had undoubtedly received a great benefit at the hands of their artistic temperament. The motion was carried by acclamation.’ Mr Hanna replied thanking the members, saying that he was indeed very fond of this little society, and that it really was Mrs Hanna who had first mentioned the idea of forming it. He hoped to see it go on flourishing, and he was sure the society would not have much trouble in getting in money for new works. He and Mrs Hanna hoped to visit Paeroa occasionally and see the work still going ahead. He. would be here for a few weeks yet, and would help with the canvassing. As r- token of their" good wishes tc the society Mr and Mrs Hanna offered to present a flag to the society to be flown on occasions on Primrose Hill, which offer was received by acclamation. CANVASS PROPOSED. Mr Marshall moved that Mr Hanna, the treasurer, and Mr Silcock be a canvassing committee to tackle the question in its entirety. Seconded by Mr Edwards and carried. WANDERING CATTLE. Mr Taylor moved that the attention of the Borough Council be drawn to the fact that cattle were wandering about the streets at night damaging the society’s works. Seconded by Mr Gillman and carried.